A place to gather: thoughts, design ideas, artistic influences and friends

Etsy Shops

April 19, 2011

With Easter and Earth Day upon us this week, I have had "green" on my mind. I love its many hues from its yellowy notes to its teal counterparts. But most of all I love its symbolic power as a color of healing, growth, renewal, awakening. "May all things become new again" it seems to remind us of our own hope. Our own call toward starting fresh!

And speaking of Earth Day, why not participate by shopping with me?? Both of my shops, Gathering Vintage and Gathering Spriggs are eco-conscious featuring upcycled handmades and vintage housewares as well as recycled materials for shipping.

April 15, 2011

Happy Friday! How do you plan to unwind this weekend? Any special outings or Springtime soiree's?

If you are like me and need not only a day of rest but a little gift for yourself, I have just the solution. Today the lovely Claudia of Niandra is offering these two beautiful accessories from her Spring collection to one lucky GS reader.

All you have to do is visit her shop, return here and comment on what you like there, then next Friday I will announce a winner of the beautiful Light blue earrings and Love letter necklace (seen above... hand selected by me).

One more little gift to you... ALL GS readers will receive a special free gift when they make a purchase from Niandra just by entering the code "gatheringspriggs" at checkout! What a sweet deal!

Thank you Claudia for extending your heart and creativity to all of us here!

April 11, 2011

Mine, you ask? Still recovering from the Antiques and Artisan Market (some booth images). It took more out of me than I realized. Thusly, my little ducks aren't quite back in a row just yet (i.e laundry piles, unswept floors, boxes to unpack, garage to clean/organize) But a girl could always use a little treat between chores... So here is one mine that I am regifting, wrapping with a satin bow and giving to you today. The masterfully styled nostalgic lookbook from British clothing company, Darling.

I was instantly transported to my teenage years when the long awaited Laura Ashley catalogue would arrive in the mail and my heart dripped with yearning for walks in the garden on long, fresh, romantic Spring days.... Then I awoke with a start from this daydream, realizing that what once was is made new again! And it hit me... "Search for vintage Laura Ashley on Etsy!" Oh, Yeah! Baby! ...And they're back!

March 17, 2011

Friends, in times of great tragedy comes great need. We watch the devastation feeling helpless. Maybe even hopeless. That is why I want to share with you several efforts here at home where artists and shop owners are taking great steps to be proactive within their grief. When I saw EZ's relief fundraiser (donating all of her shop sales to the Red Cross), it sparked a light of hope within me. Then I began seeing more tweets of other shops taking action with donation. Redefine Home is pledging 25% of all sales to Architecture for Humanity. And many Etsians are offering special limited edition art prints where all proceeds will go to help our neighbor in need; like : this Remember Print by Design Twenty Six. In fact if you search "Japan or Japan Relief" on Etsy you are sure to find numerous shops that are contributing to the need.

So, Gathering Spriggs and Gathering Vintage too are participating in the cause by donating 30% off all sales in both shops to World Vision (Building a Better World for Children). With new items being added daily in each of my Etsy shops, you are sure to find a gift for a friend, a special something for yourself as a reminder of your donation, or even a present to give for Easter or Mother's Day.

Are you aware of other relief efforts in the art/design community? Please tweet them to me so I can add them to the list. How do you offer hope and help for those in need during great tragedy?

March 16, 2011

Don't you love a good story? Ones of great fortitude, of creative entrepreneurial spirit that doesn't give up? I sure do. They help me live with hope and expectation of possibility.

That is why when I received an email from Katherine sharing not only her beautifully designed jewelry collection but also her personal story of becoming the maker behind Katheyl, I knew you would like to get to know her too.

Katherine of Katheyl, a native of Singapore, began as an Electronics enginieer for 7 years before moving into the Senior Executive Search industry. Then her life took a turn when she quit her job, picked up from her homeland and moved to Germany to join her husband. She explains the process:

"I guess the lecturer in my HR course was right when he said a person changes his/her career path at least 3 times in his/her life.

I started Katheyl when I was still holding down a full-time job but never quite had the time to focus on it. It was just a hobby (other than volunteering at the local zoo and squeezing in a game of archery from time to time), but still something that I had hoped to spend more time on.

So when I finally got the chance to work full-time on Katheyl when I moved to Germany, it's like a dream come true! The whole experience has been truly wonderful. I've grown to love handmade things even more and become more conscious of unnecessary spending and buying."

Katherine credits her Asian roots and her stint as a zoo volunteer as the inspiration behind her nature influenced collection. (What hasn't this woman done?!)

You can see the dedication and imagination flowing out from her beautiful designs. Now she is at a new crossroads, crafting a life of passion.

March 15, 2011

Looking for a spot of sunshine? How about introducing a touch of yellow in your life? I know its St. Patricks Day this week but I cant stop imagining golden hues. Maybe it is the touches of blooming forsythia against the gray hillsides that has me inspired. I don't typically wear yellow but do like touches of it in accessories. Little rays of light.

March 07, 2011

Mine was a wonderful mix of both. Staying in on a raining Saturday and Sunday I was out all day at a Alice in Wonderland inspired fashion shoot where I was invited to provide table styling and props. Here are a few snaps of the day I took whilst the real photographer was busy doing his job. Of course those images will be stellar, but wanted to share with you right away my vantage point of the day. Although overcast and very cold, we trudged through (not minding the mud on our boots or in this case 4-inch stilletos) all for the sake of art. In between takes the models would throw on their coats and run to the heated cars waiting nearby.

The shoot was the vision of fashion designer Jennie of Vicious Threads who contacted me a week ago to see if I could join the team along with fellow local Etsian Meran of The Sai-Sai Shoppe who created the mini hats for the models.

Collaborating and trudging through an isolated landscape with plastic totes in hand reminded me of the years in art school schlepping around large art installations and costumes for performance pieces ... all in the name of art. and a shared experience. Priceless moments.

Hopefully I will have the professional images to share soon. I've given up trying to edit mine to perfection. They all seemed to come out kinda grainy today. So thanks for sharing this moment with me even if it is a bit rough around the edges.

That's why I love you so much!

ps. Also a huge thanks to my dear friend Eve Peach for loaning out some of her beloved teacups and butterfly teapot for the shoot.

March 04, 2011

A few of my favorite pretty pins this week on Pinterest + I am excited about my very first styling gig!! On Sunday I have been invited by a fellow Etsy seller.. a local fashion designer who has worked diligently to put together an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party photo shoot. Complete with her custom fashion creations, hats, and a long table in the grass. Yours truly has been invited to provide the tea sets, tea pots, vintage linens and be the table stylist on this shoot!!! Squeal!!

It is a huge dream of mine and I am simply over the moon!

Thank you dear friends for your love and support here at GS... I promise to share photos next week. Until then, hope your weekend is filled with sunshine and plentiful rest!

March 01, 2011

March: a season between. Seems like we have collectively been craving the freshness of mint in our palette this month. Its such a beautiful crisp, careful color... not quite green and not quite ready for the pulsing shades of summertime aqua. Just a beautiful between.